Best bookshelf speakers for bookshelf placement

Excellent question... I also have the same need. I am assuming that all rear ported speakers would be a bad choice. I saw on a thread that Rives suggested building a cabinet in the bookshelf around an in wall designed speaker. Makes sense to me.

See the Stereophile website for current coverage of CES where Wilso has come out with some 'true' bookshelf speakers MEANT to be set on shelves. (no affiliation with wilson stereophile or anybody else!)

North Acoustics Spirit. The best by far. Believe me, I have tried many.
The website is down right now. You can learn a little about the company at http://www.northcreekmusic.com/
Same owner, George Short.

For shelf placement, only acoustic suspension/sealed box or front ported monitors will work best ... you can't change physics, though marketing spiels may try. Question seriously any manufacturer that will claim that a rear ported or a "plugged" rear ported speaker will work well in your situation, unless it can be demonstarted that the speakers work well with near rear wall (less than 3 inches) placement. Fortunately, speakers on an open shelf fare better than speakers on a shelf inside of a bookcase (you ultimately wind up with a box inside of a box). I speak with a lot of experience, as I have had speakers on shelves in numerous systems for the last 15 years (mischievous, high-flying cats).

Hell if I know which are the "best" speakers for anything. Speakers that I have owned which excelled at shelf placement are: NHT SB2 (depending on your shelf width though, I would go with the SB3 ... a very underrated performer that with the right equipment would shock most people with its nuanced musical performance); Omega Super 3 (a single driver speaker that is magic with tubes); and EPOS 11 (the new version would be M12.2). What didn't work were Wharfedale Diamonds; B&W 300 series; and KEF Uni-Q's.

Regards, Rich

The Coincident triumph is perhaps the cleanest most transparent good staging true bookshelf sized speaker Ihave heard but it tends to lack good bass extension . They have unreal treble if your a fan of that. I have also liked earlier versions of the VR1 from Von Schwiekert which is more balanced overall. I heard both of these on shelves not stands, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't really be better on stands away from the wall. I own the SB-2 from NHT they are neutral more laid back and have better bass but aren't nearly as defined as the above. They seem almost impervious to placement and if you like them they are a fraction of the cost. I'll sell you mine if your interested.